A growing record of our extended family's lives and times

 

Denunes/Denoons
in the historic records of Scotland

Tartan: Campbell of Argyll, ancient Denoons and Denunes are members of the Scottish Clans Campbell and Ross. Those who claim the Campbell heritage are descended of a family which took its name from a village (Dunoon) on the Argyll peninsula, along the Firth of Clyde. Ross, hunting tartan
Tartan:
Campbell of Argyll
ancient
 		Ross Denoons did so too, but had ancestors who were constrained to leave Argyll under threat of death.
Tartan:
Ross
hunting

The story comes down from the Campbells, that a certain Duncan Campbell was not a particularly likable character. In the early 1500s this Duncan was the keeper (or "governor") of the cattle of Dunoon. Not only was he an annoyance to his neighbors, but he managed to upset the Earl of Argyll by mixing his neighbors' cattle with his lord's. When the Earl's upset was expressed, Duncan and his brother — a cleric named Donald — bade a hasty farewell. They retreated to the Kingdom of Ross, where they took their mother's maiden name as their own. Duncan's children inherited lands from their cleric-uncle in the area which today is called Cadboll.

FRAGMENTS of Historical References

The following fragments of information were collected by myself and correspondents of mine. Some of the correspondents' information has come from volumes they have found. The problem with this information is that though I have the copies these people have made of pages from various source books, they haven't necessarily given me the names of the books themselves. As much about each resource as is provided in my records, is cited.

INDEX
(alphabetical according to first name, then chronological)
  

From Douglas, Sir Robert, The Baronage of Scotland, Edinburgh:1798.

"Sir Arthur de Denune flourished in the reign of king Alexander III, and had the honour of knighthood conferred upon him by that prince, whom he survived several years.
    "In a charter of James lord high steward of Scotland, confirming the donations of his predecessors to the monastery of Paisley, the witnesses are, 'Robert bishop of Glasgow, John brother of the lord high steward, sir Arthur de Denune, sir Nicolas Campbell, and sir Reginald de Crawford, knights, William de Schaw, Alexander de Normanville, &c. esquires,' anno 1294.
    "This sir Arthur was afterwards, with many of his countrymen, compelled to submit to king Edward I, of England, anno 1296. At the same time, Guy de Denune was also forced to swear fealty to the said king Edward anno 1296.
    "Whether sir Arthur de Denune and Guy were brothers, we cannot determine, but 'tis believed that, of these two, most of the Denunes in Scotland are descended, whose posterity have been free barons in different countries of this kingdom, some centuries ago."

Mariot Denune was made heir of her brother John Denune, 1416.

In 1496 Andrew Dunown resigned half of Davidstoun in favor of his son, Alexander Denune.

Johnne Dennoun, who had a 'respitt' for his "treasonable remanent and biding at hame fra our souerane lordis oist and army at Werk," 1529, may be John Denone of Daveistone who witnessed a notarial instrument at Ferne in 1545.

William Dunnon acquired a third part of Arkboll near tain, 1535.

Master Thomas Dunnone was rector of Kincardine in the north, 1536-66.

"Andrew Denune, afterwards of Catbole, who lived in the reigns of king James IV, and V. He acquired from his uncle Donald the abbot, the lands and barony of Catbole in Rossshire, anno 1534, which became the chief title of his family.
    "Contemporary with this Andrew, lifed sir David Denune, also settled in the north country, who was possessed of considerable estate, which appears by two charters under the great seal, domino Willielmo de Denune, of the lands and barony of Pittogarty, the village and lands of Pitnellie, Balnacouth, &c. in the shires of Ross and Inverness; one dated in the year 1538, and another in 1540, but we can give no account of his posteriety."

From an uncredited source:

Donald Denoun of Ferne died February 1540.

Margaret Dunnoven or Denune was heir of William Dunnoven of Pitnelie in Ross, 1574.

(According to the same uncredited source as the two above, in which the names in this entry have been found (a photostat copy of a column from a book in the New York Public Library), "Dunhoven" is an old (1270) spelling of the Argyllshire place name Dunoon. Dunoon has also been spelled, Dunnovane (1476), Dennoune (1547), Denoone (1679), Denowne (1536), Denune (1649), Denoome (in Terry, The Cromwellian Union, p. 131), Dynnvne (1566), Dunnown, and Dunnune).

From Testament Dative of Andrew Denoon pentherer burgess of Inverness, CC 11/1/4/490):

John Denone was vicar of Delting in Shetland, 1576.

John Denone was heir of Andrew Denone of Catboll-Abbot, his father, in the lands of Catboll-Abbot, 1606.

William Denoin was servitor to James Cuthbert of Drackie, 1617.

Andrew Denune was heir of John Denune of Catboll, his father, 1649.

Alexander Denune was a burgess of Inverness, 1679.

Alexander Denune was preacher at Pettie, 1683.

Andrew Denoon, pentherer burgess of Inverness, died 1717 in Inverness. Daniel Denoon, pentherer in Inverness, is noted as Andrew's only son.

From a document, dated 20 December 1733, listed in the Index to Services of Heirs: 1700-1865.

David Denune, saddler in Canongate, was listed as heir to his father baillie David Denune, saddler there.

From the Index to Register of Testaments:

Andrew Denoon, pentherer burgess of Inverness, was listed in the Commissariot of Inverness 1630-1823, 9 May 1735.

David Denoon in Castle Leathers was listed in the Commissariot of Inverness 1630-1823, 3 August 1748.

From Testament Dative of David Denoon in Castleleathers, CC 11/1/5/204:

"[David Denoon] died 1748 in his house at Castleleathers, parish of Inverness. By David Denoon now in Castleleathers son. Inventory of household effects that were sold. Ref. to James Denoon, Janet McPherson widow of deceased. Cautioners - Alexander McBean alias McAllan in Essick, John McPherson tacksman of the Mains of Inches. Confirmed 3 August 1748."

From Index to Services of Heirs, 1700-1865:

David Murray, hatter of London, is listed as heir to his mother Rachel Denoon, wife of John Murray, merchant and tailor in Canongatehead, 5 February 1752.

From Index to Services of Heirs, 1700-1865:

Ann Denoon, daughter of David, saddler of Canongate, is listed as heir to grandfather David D., saddler there, 8 August 1753.

Grave markers in the churchyard of Fearne Abbey, recorded by David & Corinne Denoon, 5 October 1999:

SACRED
to the Memory of DAVID
CAMPBELL and DENOON of
Tain [w'in] parish of Tain
died 25 May 1793 aged 65 years
ALSO
ISABELLA CAMPBELL alias
MACGREGOR Relic of the
above died 13th Feby 1797
Aged 70 years
ALSO
Mr HENRY CAMPBELL
Grandson of the above
who died on his passage
from London 17 July 1796
Aged 4 years 4 Months
and 15 days
The above in Life Respected
and in death lamented
ERECTED
by their affectionate Son
ANDREW CAMPBELL
of London 1839

SACRED
To the Memory of
ANDREW CAMPBELL
of London Merchant Son of
DAVID DENOON CAMPBELL
who died [Aldie] the 7th September
1847 in the 82nd year of his Age
The Deceased after an absence
of 50 years impelled by feeling of
attachment to the Highlands
and his Population Returned
to his birth Place where he
Closed his Life Respected as an
upright and benevolent man
SACRED ALSO
To the Memory of
JOSEPH CAMPBELL
his Son who died at [Aldie] the
22 June 1852 in the 55th year of
his Age and who inherited the Same
feelings of his family and his Population

From Index and abridgements to Register of Sasines, Ross and Cromarty, 1780-1865:

"Elizabeth or Betty Denoon, spouse of Hugh Graham, sometime in Tain now shoemaker in Dronoch. Lands in Tain. Disp. by said Hugh Graham. PR29/120." Dated 12 May 1820

From Index to Personal Estates of Defuncts: Ross, Inverness, Kincardine, Aberdeen, Banff, Elgin, Sutherland, Caithness, Orkney and Shetland, 1846-67:

Janet Denoon, Inverness. Died 7 February 1842. Inverness, 1848.

From Index and abridgements to Register of Sasines, Ross and Cromarty, 1780-1865:

"Kenneth Mackenzie of Fortrose residing in Rosemarkie and Kenneth Mackenzie merchant Rosemarkie his son in trust for Ann Denoon and Ann Mackenzie daughter of said Bailie Kenneth Mackenzie. Lands on south side of High Street of Rosemarkie. Disp. by William McAllan cabinetmaker Elgin to said Bailie Kenneth Mackenzie, and disp. by him." PR 56/118." Dated 19 July 1852.

From Index and abridgements to Register of Sasines, Ross and Cromarty, 1780-1865:

"David Denoon merchant Invergordon. Lands in Invergordon. Feu charter by Robert Bruce Aeneas MacLeod of Cadbol, to Jean Sutherland residing in Invergordon, Ann Sutherland relict of Adam Barnet mason Dalkeith and Elizabeth Sutherland residing in Invergordon, daughters and heirs, portioners of late Charles Sutherland cartwright there, and disp. by them. PR 60/105." Dated 21 August 1857.

From Index to Personal Estates of Defuncts, and Sheriff Court records of Ross and Cromarty at Dingwall, Index to Register of Inventories, 1824-1860, and Inventory of Helen Denoon innkeeper in Rosemarkie, SC25/44/7/104 in Index and abridgements to Register of Sasines, Ross and Cromarty, 1780-1865:

Helen Denoon, innkeeper in Rosemarkie, died 26 July 1857. Her estate inventory was submitted, 10 January 1860, by Mrs. Margaret Denoon or Munro, wife of John Munro carpenter residing in Rosemarkie. Reference to Jonathan Denoon, sometime innkeeper in Rosemarkie.

From Index and abridgements to Register of Sasines, Ross and Cromarty, 1780-1865:

"George Denoon merchant Invergordon registers disp. to himself by David Holm residing at Mains of Newhall. Lands in Chapeltown ph Resolis. PR 67/64." Dated 7 December 1860.

From Index and abridgements to Register of Sasines, Ross and Cromarty, 1780-1865:

"Trustee on sequestered estate of Benjamin Denoon merchant Portmahomack, registers feu disp. to himself by Robert Bruce Aeneas MacLeod of Cadboll. Lands in Portmahomack ph. Tarbat. PR 67/64." Dated 16 March 1865.

From Index to Personal Estates of Defuncts: Ross, Inverness, Kincardine, Aberdeen, Banff, Elgin, Sutherland, Caithness, Orkney and Shetland, 1846-67:

John Denoon, farmer Pitnellies near Tain, died 14 October 1865. Ross and Cromarty, 1867.

 

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